The Cookie Swap – Create a Family Tradition

A cookie swap is not how we created our Christmas family tradition.  12My daughter and I love baking so when the holidays come around we find it quite fun to create a variety of cookies to have Christmas Day.  We also love to give away as gifts a package full Christmas Cookies to people that we are thankful for.  Okay, I think that is my favorite part!

Quite a few years back my daughter and I baked and baked with the intention to package up little goodie bags filled with a variety of Christmas cookies to our friends. It was a lot of fun.

Not a Quick Project

It took us several weeks to accomplish this task as we wanted that variety of cookies. 

We had poured over cookie recipes to decide which delicious cookies to make.  Then chose some favorite cookie recipes like a chocolate chip cookie recipe, our best sugar cookie recipe, a peanut butter, a spritz  and a ginger cookies recipe.  The last thing was look at new cookie recipes to have the top cookie recipes to bake!  We looked at other recipes for gingerbread cookies, recipes for thumbprint cookies, a lemon cookie recipe, a chocolate cookie recipe and you can’t forget about oatmeal cookies.  There was some great Christmas cookie recipes.

Then we compiled this huge shopping list for the ingredients they required.  When we got all our materials together the baking began. This was going to take several weeks.   So the Christmas Carols were on and the baking began.  My daughter and I had a good time baking up her favorites a chocolate chip cookie recipe and the sugar cookies–the best part was the cookie decorations.

Then I  finished the baking of the rest by myself –Christmas music still going. 

She was young.  I don’t know why I thought it would hold her attention that long!  No worries, the memories of the time we baked side by side with my daughter with our aprons dotted with flour was priceless nonetheless.

After they were all baked, they got gift wrapped in pretty Christmas tins and it was gift giving time.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, we also had a nice tray of cookies left at home for our Christmas day–the original goal.

How a New Tradition Began

A common comment from the gift recipient was that they loved the cookies but wouldn’t have done it themselves.   The tradition of Christmas cookie baking had gotten lost with the heavy to-do lists which made me sad.   It got me thinking next year why don’t I host a Christmas cookie exchange?  We all just bake one type of cookie, bring them to a fun holiday party during the party we cookie swap and we leave happy with a variety of cookies.  So my planning began! 

It is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and socialize with people you care about.  Friends, neighbors and family gather together at your home, bringing their favorite baked cookies and cookie recipes.  So a new Christmas tradition was born.

Create a Christmas Tradition with Your Family

You too can create Christmas Tradition and host a Cookie Swap!

I hope our story stirs up a little curiosity about an old tradition brought back into light.  Simply invite your guests, eat, swap cookies and enjoy each other’s company…isn’t that what Christmas is about really?

Hosting a Cookie Swap Easy – 3 Simple steps

You may be saying, “I would love to create that Christmas Tradition, but how do you host a cookie swap?”   

1.  Dream a Little – Take out a piece of paper and imagine what you want it to be.
2. Write it Down – Writing things down help every decision come to life and work together
3. Bring it Together – Use your written plan to make a fun easy gathering and perhaps a new Christmas tradition.

 

Need help?

Well, the good news is I have a great resource that will answer your question.  It will take you step by step through the planning process, forms and checklists to keep you on track and ideas to keep a simple but fun Christmas Party. So you can start a tradition without a lot of fuss.   It is “The Cookie Swap – Create a Christmas Tradition—One Cookie Recipe at a Time”.  Instantly download so get started right away.  Get your copy now here.

If I were doing a cookie swap, this book would be the one resource I would start with!  To be honest, I could use this information for organizing any festive event. 

–Ellen Keyes

Have fun with your swap and happy planning.

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PS – Love cookies?  Pick up this cute download the A-Z Cookie Book and get the planner pages straight from The Cookie Swap book.  It’s a gift to you.  Click here.

Host a cookie swap this holiday season!  Get the entire bundle for the price of  The Cookie Swap – Create a Christmas Tradition One Cookie Recipe at a Time – Only $7 for a Limited Time